COMPRESSOR FOR NATURAL GAS

摘要

A compact compressor is provided which can be used for production of very high-pressure end products using a multi-stage compression process. In one exemplary application, the compressor can be used for each stage of the multi-stage compression process used in production of compressed natural gas (CNG), in which low-pressure natural gas (NG) is compressed to less than 1 percent of its volume at standard atmospheric pressure (e.g., to 2,900-3,600 psi or 20-25 MPa). The compressor includes spark-avoidance, heat-mitigation and oil separation systems to safely and effectively produce CNG from NG.

主权项

1. A natural gas compressor comprising:
a housing having an inlet and an outlet, said housing including a unitary base structure and a pair of end caps fixed to said base structure, said housing able to contain a pressure of 3,600 psi (24.8 MPa); said housing enclosing an internal cavity defining an internal volume between about 196 cubic inches (3,218 cubic centimeters) and about 2,389 cubic inches (39,152 cubic centimeters); a rotary compressor mechanism disposed within said housing and having an electric motor, said rotary compressor mechanism operable to receive low-pressure natural gas at said inlet, compress the low-pressure natural gas to high-pressure compressed natural gas within said housing, and discharge the high-pressure natural gas at said outlet; and a control system operably connected to said motor and comprising at least one of a temperature sensor mounted to said motor and a current sensor positioned to measure electrical current supplied to said motor, said control system configured to deactivate said motor when a predetermined compressor state is detected, said predetermined compressor state comprising at least one of a temperature above a temperature threshold as measured by said temperature sensor and a current above a current threshold as measured by said current sensor.